A Difference in Bleeding and Use of Blood and Blood Products in Patients who Were Preoperatively on Aspirin or Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Before Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background Postoperative bleeding in patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) may increase due to preoperative anticoagulant therapy indicative of their disease - acute coronary syndrome or implanted coronary artery stent. Increased bleeding in many cases requires the use of blood and blood derivatives, and sometimes even reoperation. Their use poses the risk of complications, may extend the hospitalization. Methods Our observation retrospective study included 131 patients, 41 treated with aspirin and 90 treated with aspirin and clopidogrel. All underwent for the first time elective on-pump isolated CABG surgery at Clinic for cardiovascular surgery of Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, in period June 2016 to September 2017. The data were collected from patient’s records. Results Out of 131 patients,73.3% were male. The average age was 62. The average total drainage during the first 48 postoperative hours in ASA group was 1027.4±404.9ml and 1049.8±371.3ml in DAPT group. The mean number of whole blood transfusions in the DAPT group washigher compared to ASAgroup. The average number of fresh frozen plasma were higher in the DAPT group 0.84±0.51 compared to the group ASA 0.39±0.07, as well the average thrombocytes transfusions were slightly higher in the DAPT group. Statistical analysis suggests that there is no significant difference between the observed groups (p>0.05). Also, our study did not show a statistically significant difference between arrhythmia onset, the length of mechanical ventilation, use of protamineand tranexamic acid. Reoperation due to postoperative bleeding was recorded in 2 cases in the DAPT group as well as 2 lethal cases. Conclusion In our study, we could not demonstrate less postoperative bleeding and use of blood and blood products in a group of patients who were preoperatively treated with aspirin compared to patients with dual antiplatelet therapy in the elective isolated CABG surgery.